Support for Foot & Ankle Arthritis

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Arthritis of the foot and ankle is a chronic condition that often requires long-term management of symptoms. Doctors at NYU Langone understand that arthritis can affect your everyday life and offer programs and services to help you minimize symptoms, remain active, or recover from a surgery.

Physical Therapy

If pain and stiffness caused by arthritis has kept you from exercising the affected foot or ankle, the muscles can weaken over time. After treatment, as arthritis pain begins to subside, your doctor may recommend four to eight weeks of physical therapy to rebuild strength and restore flexibility. Many people find that working with our team of physical therapists and rehabilitation doctors at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation helps them walk and pursue other physical activities with less pain.

Our rehabilitation experts can customize an exercise plan that conditions muscles in the foot and ankle, decreasing pain and increasing stamina. They tailor exercises to your needs depending on the extent and location of arthritis and whether you are recovering from surgery. After four to eight weeks, your physical therapist assesses your progress and determines whether additional therapy is needed.

Mind and Body Wellness

In addition to medication and physical therapy, NYU Langone specialists offer complementary therapies that can relieve pain, reduce stress, and increase relaxation. These include acupuncture, acupressure, and meditation, as well as movement therapies such as yoga and tai chi. Some people find that including one or more of these therapies in a treatment plan can speed recovery and heighten their sense of wellbeing.